The National tribune., 1887-09-22
GEN. BLACKS REPORT.
OCoutfnuod frotn 2d nanel
the natural right and claim on the son for sup
NEW AGENCIES.

put
NEW AGENCIES.
For wears the center Of the pension popula-
ton OF the United States has been steadily
moving toward the West and the South, so that
the four largest western agencies, as shown by
their annual reports for the year lSs7, are pay
ing an average OF 81 .62S pensioners. The addi-
ton of the Mexican war pensioners, under the
act of JAN %. lSS7, still further increased this
ratio aud throws the center of the pension
poYulati0n still farther TO the West and South.
/ have therefore in my estimates, submitted
for transmission through the Treasury Depart
ment, asked for the establishment of two addi-
tional agencies. Power is lodged in the Presi
dent 10 establish agencies for the payment of
pensions wherever in his judgment they should
bc established, looking 10 the public interests
and those of the pensioners; but the provision
is nugatory unless appropriation be made for
the payment Of expenses. i have asked for the
additional salaries Of two Pension Agents and a
very small additional amount for clerk-hire,
limiting the extra call for this service TO $4,000
per year AT both agencies.
i believe that the expeditions discharge OF
the duties of these Pension Agents requires the
establishment Of additional agencies. True
economy in this matter consists in thoroughly
equipping the Governmental service. The
agencies now existing are being worked to
their full capacity. More work is being done
by them than since the foundation of the Gov
ernment-more than has ever been accom-
plishcd hy an equal number. A delay of few
days is always the occasion for loud and dis
contented comments on the part of the pen
oncrs who are TO be paid, and ! feel justified
in urging the additional expenses for and on
account of the agencies of the sums above speci-
fed and amounting TO $4,000.
MEXICAN SERVICE PENSION ACT OF JAN. 90
1887.
am gratifed to report that the work upon
the Mexican service pensions under the act of
Jan. %. 1857, i'm the Old War and Navy Divis-
ion, with the assistance rendered by the Record
Division and by the volunteered service out of
Office hours of numbers of employees, was so adj
vanced that by the close of the fiscal year 5000
of those pensions had been granted. i asked
for an additional appropriation and for leave to
employ an additional number of clerks for this
service. Congress decided not to grant the in-
crease, so was compelled TO delay the current
work, to indefinitely postpone and thus vir-
.tually defeat tho operations of the Mexican PEN
sion act or to avail myself of the extra services
Of the employees in the Bureau. / acknowledge
| with satisfaction that very many among them
rendered these services cheerfully, pleasantly
and efficiently. / desire also TO mention in
this connection the services of the Certificate
Division. which worked with unceasing zeal,
thereby making the promises Of the law good
TO these aged veterans.
renew my request for additional clerical
force during the remainder Of this fiscal year,
that j may be enabled, without making extra
demands upon the clerks now in the service,
Go complete and satisfy the Mexican pension
claims. They are those of aged persons who
have waited period of nearly 40 years for the
display of their country's generosity, and aid TO
reach them must be speedily extended.
SUMMARY OF TABLES.
Table No. i, annexed TO this report, is as
follows:
There were at the close of the year 4060
pensioners classified as follows: 29i A5 army
invalids; 5000 army widows minor children
and dependent relatives; 3,2Sl navy invalids /;
1873 navy widows minor children and de-
pendent relatives; 1,069 survivors of the war
of 1872 and IL ,s3l widows of those who served
in that war 1903 survivors of the war with
Mexico. and S95 widows Of those who served in
said war, which latter class have been added TO
the rolls pursuant TO the act Of Congress ap-
proved jan %, 1887.
There were added to the rolls during the
year the names of 81, 1874 new pensioners and
the names of 2,7O7 whose pensions had been
previously dropped were restored 10 the rolls,
making an aggregate of 57,sOl pensioners added
during the year
Daring the same period the names Of 1857
| pensioners were dropped from the rolls for
various causes leaving a net increase 10 the
rolls Of 40 pa names.
The average annual value Of each pension at
the close of the year is shown to be $l30.i0, a
gain Of average annual value over last year Of
S7.S7. The aggregate annual value of all PEN
sions is So, ,S2i 6il22, an increase of like value
for the year of SS1l6633.7s.
The amount paid for pensions during the
year was s73, 467 5sl.S7, an increase in amount
over the previous year of S9669, 1926, the
difference between the amount paid and the
annual values being due TO first payments, in
oil "A lspc -
The amount paid TO 44,0l9 new pensioners
during the year upon first payment was s25,-
| l66, g9006, and there remained in the hands OF
| the several Pension Agents II ,6S3 Of this class
| unpaid at the close OF business on the Both day
of June, on which there was due s., ,92i, ,7S3.ll.
Table No. . shows as follows:
There were 1867 pensioners whose names
were dropped from the rolls. They have been
| 50 classified 10 show the number Of widows
with aud those without minor children; the
| number of minor children who were pensioned
| in their own right, and the number of depend
| ont mothers and fathers. Ii also shows the
whole number of pensioners on the roll, with a
like subdivision Of the widows class.
Table No. exhibits the amount of apprOpri.
| ations and balances available for the payment
| of pensions for lS561S7.
Table No. exhibits the amount paid out on
account of pensions by each agent under each
item Of appropriation rs shown by their ac.
counts-current This table also shows dis
bursement Of Sl9,9il.95 for payment Of arrears
OF pensions in cases where the original pension
was granted prior TO Jan. 25 1873. and the date
OF commencement of pension was subsequent u
discharge or death. The act of Jan. 25, 1879
provided for arrears of this class and the dis
| bursemcnts have been kept separate from those
of regular pensions. OF the funds 10 pay this
class there remain a balance of $433,7il.5S
which is not, as in the case of other appropria
tions, covered into the Treasury at the close o
the year.
Table No. shows the number Of pensionen
on the rolls at each agency, by the seveTa
classes and compares the aggregate number
with that OF the previous year, showing ia eacl
class the net increase or net decrease. lt ais,
| shows the net increase 10 the rolls during tn,
year. which, AS before stated, was 4022i.
Table No. q shows the number of origina
pension claims of each class filed year by yea
since 1861, the number allowed, aud the mum
Der of pensioners on the rolls at the close o
each year In this statement it appears tina
62S.272 claims have been flied during that pc
riod on account of disability, and 364, ,oS6 claim
have been filed on account of death, alleged I,
be due TO causes originating iD the service
claims for this latter class having been filed bN
f widows, minor children, aud dependent rela
, tives. There have been allowed Of the nvalit
claims 367, ,d24; Of the widows aud dependen
relatives claims 2i0, ,662; a total OF 60S, ,OS6
Since 1871, 79l6i claims for pension on nc
count of service during the war Of 1872, pro
vided for by the acts of 1871 and 1873, hav
1 n ~ El